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Thrice~Crossed Swords Trilogy #1
The Censor's Hand
MAGIC, FAITH and JUSTICE clash in a world of intrigue and action.
Miranda, one of the hundred adopted daughters of the Dowager Duchess, wants nothing more than to become a master of the cunning arts. Only a fool would doubt her genius, but never before has a woman been permitted to wield such power.
Jonathan faces ruin. The sails of his mill haven't turned since the Company of Cunning diverted the winds of Bromwich to their advantage. He's always been a devout and law-abiding man. How far will he go to protect his family from destitution and the gangsters at his doorstep?
If Daniel, his brother, passes the tests to become a censor, maybe he could protect them. He might even get the chance to make amends for what happened to their sister. But in the real world, justice is elusive, and the damage of the past can rarely be undone.
A fantasy thriller for the adult reader, The Censor's Hand presents a dark and intricate vision of a world transformed by magic.
Reviews
"An impressive new series." - Starburst Magazine, UK
"Absolutely fantastic." - The Dyslexic Reader, Ireland
"I really like this book." - The Weatherwax report, USA
"I recommend this book." - Ventureadlaxre, Australia
"A uniquely crafted world of fantasy and magic." - The Joycean Booknerdery, Netherlands
"Masterfully crafted...I'm hanging on the edge of my seat to read the next instalment. By the end of The Censor's Hand, you will be too." - Reader Nature, USA
502 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2017
61 people are currently reading
1086 people want to read
About the author
A.M. Steiner
4 books43 followersAdam M. Steiner hails from Highgate, North London, a place of wild forest and crumbling graveyards. He spent his schooldays raiding the local library, and paying attention to his teachers when they spoke of ancient gods. Later in life, he travelled the world, had many adventures, and learned a great deal about the murky worlds of business, politics and magic. When he is not writing dark fantasy novels, Adam fences épée and longsword. He recently returned to Highgate to raise semi-feral children with his perfect wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 2, 2018
The first book in the
Thrice~Crossed Swords
trilogy and pretty much concentrated on the character development and world building. Daniel and Miranda's stories are the best for me; on the other hand, Jon's tale is a little bit depressing yet still a good read.
I'm anticipating for the second installment in the series, The Pillow Knife , because I reckon it would be more action-packed than the first. If you enjoy reading fantasy fiction books, mystery, murder, magic, and steampunk, then The Censor's Hand should be on your next read.
I'm anticipating for the second installment in the series, The Pillow Knife , because I reckon it would be more action-packed than the first. If you enjoy reading fantasy fiction books, mystery, murder, magic, and steampunk, then The Censor's Hand should be on your next read.
November 14, 2017
Read for the SPFBO, this is one of the books that I chose to further consider out of my initial 30, trying to whittle them all down to a single title to put forward to the other judges - and it's also one that I picked for the cover contest.
We meet two brothers - Daniel and Jonathan, who are out to better themselves. Daniel is trying to become a Censor - a job of great respect - while Jonathan is struggling somewhat. It's always interesting to see what laws a man may break if it's to protect people he loves - pretty much what Les Misérables is based on, after all. Then we have my favourite - a capable woman, Miranda, who is talented and determined to make a difference - in her case, be the first female student and knock aside the patriarchal society that contains them. She's ruthless and driven, and currently it feels like the perfect time for her story.
When a Censor has been murdered it's up to Daniel to prove himself. This is the running theme throughout the book, as each character is trapped in their own self-made jail of demands and goals, and we see them struggle, succeed and/or fall to meet them. This novel is certainly character-driven, which is my favourite. The plot is mostly centred around what has upset or provoked our characters next.
Overall, where this excels is in its magic system, which is unique and comes down to each individual as to how they utilise it. The pacing is also excellent, as is the mood and the way it all builds up around itself.
What I would have liked to see are characters with a little more sense - it's tough, being a writer. You want to give your characters troubles, and they can't solve them too easily because otherwise you have no plot, but then making them make a few too many silly decisions makes it a bit of a slog to read at times, and makes you doubt that the characters 'exist' and you can't really follow or believe in people who don't act in a way you can understand.
I say that I like character-driven novels, but not when it comes to the plot being just a little too loose, and not entirely wrapped up neatly - it almost seems like a few elements were forgotten by the end. While I did used to argue that it's just how life is sometimes (it's not like everything we see in the world is resolved), in this case, it just made it a little pointless to have it in the novel to begin with.
This is a strong contender and I recommend this book - it doesn't feel entirely as edited as The Way Into Chaos, but I certainly liked the characters in this one far more.
We meet two brothers - Daniel and Jonathan, who are out to better themselves. Daniel is trying to become a Censor - a job of great respect - while Jonathan is struggling somewhat. It's always interesting to see what laws a man may break if it's to protect people he loves - pretty much what Les Misérables is based on, after all. Then we have my favourite - a capable woman, Miranda, who is talented and determined to make a difference - in her case, be the first female student and knock aside the patriarchal society that contains them. She's ruthless and driven, and currently it feels like the perfect time for her story.
When a Censor has been murdered it's up to Daniel to prove himself. This is the running theme throughout the book, as each character is trapped in their own self-made jail of demands and goals, and we see them struggle, succeed and/or fall to meet them. This novel is certainly character-driven, which is my favourite. The plot is mostly centred around what has upset or provoked our characters next.
Overall, where this excels is in its magic system, which is unique and comes down to each individual as to how they utilise it. The pacing is also excellent, as is the mood and the way it all builds up around itself.
What I would have liked to see are characters with a little more sense - it's tough, being a writer. You want to give your characters troubles, and they can't solve them too easily because otherwise you have no plot, but then making them make a few too many silly decisions makes it a bit of a slog to read at times, and makes you doubt that the characters 'exist' and you can't really follow or believe in people who don't act in a way you can understand.
I say that I like character-driven novels, but not when it comes to the plot being just a little too loose, and not entirely wrapped up neatly - it almost seems like a few elements were forgotten by the end. While I did used to argue that it's just how life is sometimes (it's not like everything we see in the world is resolved), in this case, it just made it a little pointless to have it in the novel to begin with.
This is a strong contender and I recommend this book - it doesn't feel entirely as edited as The Way Into Chaos, but I certainly liked the characters in this one far more.
February 7, 2018
This book was part of Ventureadlaxre’s grouping, and has since been eliminated, but with decent praise.
I’m going to be using this post as a test for what I think I’ll be doing next year with SPFBO 2018, which is grading each part and coming up with a final score.
===========================
Plot:
There are three POV’s in this book, and they’ve all got their own plot lines, and a couple of them do intertwine later on.
Daniel is the first POV we get, he’s a Censor in training about to take his final tests after already having passed a few. After taking his tests he’s assigned on a top-secret mission to investigate the murder that happened in the prologue. One of the Censor’s was murdered by unknown assailants, and it’s up to Daniel to figure out who did it and why. To start his investigation he has to go undercover to a school called the Verge, which trains people in Cunning Arts (this worlds magic). The Censors and the Cunning have a millennium of bad blood between them, the Censors and the Godsworn used to hunt down the Cunning and burn them at the stake.
Jon is Daniels brother, and he owns a mill in a poor part of the city known as Turbulence, it’s an area of poverty and high crime. Both he and his brother grew up with a drunk and abusive father who made poor decisions and ran their family into debt, eventually hanging himself. Their sister was dragged off by a mob and was killed. He’s currently trying to keep the mill together, but there are factories nearby that are magically stealing all the wind, and his mill’s blades rarely turn and he can’t produce any grain. He has to resort to taking out a loan from a man known as the Peacock, who isn’t someone you want to owe money to. With it he gets a magical horse that never tires, and doesn’t need food or water. He transforms his windmill into a horsemill and starts producing a ton of grain. However, there aren’t enough customers to get his debts paid… so he has to resort to selling his grain to the rebellion. There’s a rebellion forming against the Wise Council, they call themselves the Freeborn, and Jon finds himself involuntarily intertwined with traitors.
Miranda is the first woman ever to be accepted into the Cunning and start studying at the Verge. She’s being bombarded by people who don’t want her there because they don’t feel it’s a womans place to be learning the Cunning Arts. She was an orphan who grew up in the Royal Orphanage, one of the 100 daughters of the Duchess of the North. Even though she’s an orphan, with the Duchess as her ‘mother’ she’s treated like nobility. She’s trying to prove herself and learn as much as she can while she can, because there are a lot of forces working against her, people are playing cruel pranks, trying to buy her out of the Verge, and other things to deter her from learning more.
Final Score: 8/10
======================
Characters:
I consider this a character-driven book despite all the plot going on, there was a lot of character development and they were all very different from one another. I could easily pick out who’s chapter I was on if I were to skim to a random part of the book.
Daniel – Since he was born and raised in Turbulence, he wanted to choose the Turbulence as his first rotation as a Censor – they work sort of like guards or police. He has a deep need to help his brother and his family and thinks being a Censor could change things around for him and his family. He’s a disciplined person due to all of his training to be a Censor, they have a rigid and intense training schedule that leads to many people dropping out of the program. He’s generally a decent person, he’s fairly chivalrous and when he meets Miranda while undercover at the Verge he doesn’t show her any disrespect for being there and tries to defend her even if she doesn’t necessarily want him to.
Miranda – She’s headstrong, willful, and extremely intelligent. When she first arrives at the test which decides if you’ll be accepted into the Verge, she pushes right by a guard telling her there’s been a mistake and she can’t go in. She blows away the Master who’s testing her, and gets her acceptance – but not without a warning she won’t be wanted by everyone. There are some people at the Verge with more forward-thinking ideas, but others that are outwardly hostile. She deals with it fairly well, there were illusion pranks cast in her room to show corpses hanging from the ceiling calling her a bitch among other things, and she deals with it fairly calmly and refuses to let others get a rise from her.
Jon – He’s kind of a broken and stressed out person, he doesn’t know how to keep it all together and keep his family fed. He’s digging a hole deeper and deeper and keeps getting into more trouble. He’s got a magical item without a license that could bring huge fines down on his family, he’s been entangled in the rebellion, and he’s in debt to someone who’s a cutthroat swindler. His chapters are a bit more depressing. He loves his wife, but they do have their issues from time to time, and there’s a lady in the rebellion who’s making passes at him, but he’s fairly unamused by it and feels it’s insulting to his wife, Anna.
Final Score: 8.5/10
==========================
World Building:
The Cunning was outlawed for more than 1000 years, with the Godsworn and the Censors burning them at the stake for practicing magic
The rebels who are working against the Wise Council are known as the Freeborn
There are a lot of steampunk like elements in this book: iron and copper lamp posts with glow stones, mechanical creatures like owls and spiders, mechanical clocks, and automatons that can play music
Science and scientific thought are in the beginning stages, Miranda discusses the logic of a heliocentric universe
A “confession” is the most important job of a Censor, it allows them to see into the past
It’s been 30 years since the Cleansing, and the Godsworn and the Censors don’t speak to each other anymore, despite their long history of working together. The Godsworn became too obsessed with wealth and luxury, and spent more money than they earned.
A hekamaphone allows for long distance conversation, but voices only, no images
Most of the great advances in human history came from the East in the desert lands – literature, philosophy, Cunning, Gods, and Coffee 🙂 But, the Verge is changing that
The Cunning is a mysterious like magic, and in order to become powerful, you have to dedicate yourself to becoming ‘unnatural’. Each person chooses a different way to become ‘unnatural’ looking, and the more dedicated and committed you are to your personal route, the more powerful you become. There are people with metal in their faces warping their expressions, there are people with bizarre costumes and hairstyles. One Master hasn’t moved in 20 years, he has sores and welts and wounds, but he’s extremely powerful. It’s a little weird but it comes together the more you read about it.
Magic has a cost, you can go insane trying to follow your path to being unnatural
Final Score: 8.5/10
=======================
Pacing/Prose/Tone:
The beginning started out fast, a few hand to hand battles, mysterious magic, and a murder – but after that, you get introduced to the characters and it slows down to world build and develops the characters. Around 30% the plot picks up as everything is put into place, and I sped through the rest of it.
There weren’t too many errors that I caught, less than a handful that I marked down.
The tone wasn’t overly bleak despite the hardships some of them are having, it was more exciting than anything learning the way the magic worked and the relationships between the different factions of the world.
Pacing Final Score: 8.25/10
Writing Final Score: 7.5/10
============================
Originality:
I’ve never read a story with a magic system that worked like this, so that was exciting to read about.
A woman being the only person in a male-dominated profession has been done, so I’ve seen it a lot before, however, the character and the circumstances were interesting enough that it held my attention.
I liked the steampunk elements in it, it made the world feel different and more unique – although I’ll confess I haven’t read a ton of steampunk to begin with. However, since it’s new-ish to me it kept things pretty fresh. There have been less handful of books that have steampunk aspects to them from the SPFBO that I’ve read so far.
Final Score: 7.5/10
========================
Audience:
For people who like multi POV
For people who like steampunk
For people who like a LOT of magic
For people who like spy POV’s
For people who like female POV’s
For people who like a gritty world without being overly dark
For people who like character-driven stories
Not for those who don’t like cursing. 29 fucks given.
Final Thoughts:
Final Score: 48.25/60
I really liked this book, the prologue was short but it got me excited about the world. Sometimes when a prologue is too long it feels daunting to start all over again with new characters, but with shorter more compact prologues that then tie back into the story work well for me.
The characters were strong in this book which I love, I like a lot of action and magic in my books, but it’s a much better experience if I also connect and like the characters.
This one will likely make my top 30 list.
I’m going to be using this post as a test for what I think I’ll be doing next year with SPFBO 2018, which is grading each part and coming up with a final score.
===========================
Plot:
There are three POV’s in this book, and they’ve all got their own plot lines, and a couple of them do intertwine later on.
Daniel is the first POV we get, he’s a Censor in training about to take his final tests after already having passed a few. After taking his tests he’s assigned on a top-secret mission to investigate the murder that happened in the prologue. One of the Censor’s was murdered by unknown assailants, and it’s up to Daniel to figure out who did it and why. To start his investigation he has to go undercover to a school called the Verge, which trains people in Cunning Arts (this worlds magic). The Censors and the Cunning have a millennium of bad blood between them, the Censors and the Godsworn used to hunt down the Cunning and burn them at the stake.
Jon is Daniels brother, and he owns a mill in a poor part of the city known as Turbulence, it’s an area of poverty and high crime. Both he and his brother grew up with a drunk and abusive father who made poor decisions and ran their family into debt, eventually hanging himself. Their sister was dragged off by a mob and was killed. He’s currently trying to keep the mill together, but there are factories nearby that are magically stealing all the wind, and his mill’s blades rarely turn and he can’t produce any grain. He has to resort to taking out a loan from a man known as the Peacock, who isn’t someone you want to owe money to. With it he gets a magical horse that never tires, and doesn’t need food or water. He transforms his windmill into a horsemill and starts producing a ton of grain. However, there aren’t enough customers to get his debts paid… so he has to resort to selling his grain to the rebellion. There’s a rebellion forming against the Wise Council, they call themselves the Freeborn, and Jon finds himself involuntarily intertwined with traitors.
Miranda is the first woman ever to be accepted into the Cunning and start studying at the Verge. She’s being bombarded by people who don’t want her there because they don’t feel it’s a womans place to be learning the Cunning Arts. She was an orphan who grew up in the Royal Orphanage, one of the 100 daughters of the Duchess of the North. Even though she’s an orphan, with the Duchess as her ‘mother’ she’s treated like nobility. She’s trying to prove herself and learn as much as she can while she can, because there are a lot of forces working against her, people are playing cruel pranks, trying to buy her out of the Verge, and other things to deter her from learning more.
Final Score: 8/10
======================
Characters:
I consider this a character-driven book despite all the plot going on, there was a lot of character development and they were all very different from one another. I could easily pick out who’s chapter I was on if I were to skim to a random part of the book.
Daniel – Since he was born and raised in Turbulence, he wanted to choose the Turbulence as his first rotation as a Censor – they work sort of like guards or police. He has a deep need to help his brother and his family and thinks being a Censor could change things around for him and his family. He’s a disciplined person due to all of his training to be a Censor, they have a rigid and intense training schedule that leads to many people dropping out of the program. He’s generally a decent person, he’s fairly chivalrous and when he meets Miranda while undercover at the Verge he doesn’t show her any disrespect for being there and tries to defend her even if she doesn’t necessarily want him to.
Miranda – She’s headstrong, willful, and extremely intelligent. When she first arrives at the test which decides if you’ll be accepted into the Verge, she pushes right by a guard telling her there’s been a mistake and she can’t go in. She blows away the Master who’s testing her, and gets her acceptance – but not without a warning she won’t be wanted by everyone. There are some people at the Verge with more forward-thinking ideas, but others that are outwardly hostile. She deals with it fairly well, there were illusion pranks cast in her room to show corpses hanging from the ceiling calling her a bitch among other things, and she deals with it fairly calmly and refuses to let others get a rise from her.
Jon – He’s kind of a broken and stressed out person, he doesn’t know how to keep it all together and keep his family fed. He’s digging a hole deeper and deeper and keeps getting into more trouble. He’s got a magical item without a license that could bring huge fines down on his family, he’s been entangled in the rebellion, and he’s in debt to someone who’s a cutthroat swindler. His chapters are a bit more depressing. He loves his wife, but they do have their issues from time to time, and there’s a lady in the rebellion who’s making passes at him, but he’s fairly unamused by it and feels it’s insulting to his wife, Anna.
Final Score: 8.5/10
==========================
World Building:
The Cunning was outlawed for more than 1000 years, with the Godsworn and the Censors burning them at the stake for practicing magic
The rebels who are working against the Wise Council are known as the Freeborn
There are a lot of steampunk like elements in this book: iron and copper lamp posts with glow stones, mechanical creatures like owls and spiders, mechanical clocks, and automatons that can play music
Science and scientific thought are in the beginning stages, Miranda discusses the logic of a heliocentric universe
A “confession” is the most important job of a Censor, it allows them to see into the past
It’s been 30 years since the Cleansing, and the Godsworn and the Censors don’t speak to each other anymore, despite their long history of working together. The Godsworn became too obsessed with wealth and luxury, and spent more money than they earned.
A hekamaphone allows for long distance conversation, but voices only, no images
Most of the great advances in human history came from the East in the desert lands – literature, philosophy, Cunning, Gods, and Coffee 🙂 But, the Verge is changing that
The Cunning is a mysterious like magic, and in order to become powerful, you have to dedicate yourself to becoming ‘unnatural’. Each person chooses a different way to become ‘unnatural’ looking, and the more dedicated and committed you are to your personal route, the more powerful you become. There are people with metal in their faces warping their expressions, there are people with bizarre costumes and hairstyles. One Master hasn’t moved in 20 years, he has sores and welts and wounds, but he’s extremely powerful. It’s a little weird but it comes together the more you read about it.
Magic has a cost, you can go insane trying to follow your path to being unnatural
Final Score: 8.5/10
=======================
Pacing/Prose/Tone:
The beginning started out fast, a few hand to hand battles, mysterious magic, and a murder – but after that, you get introduced to the characters and it slows down to world build and develops the characters. Around 30% the plot picks up as everything is put into place, and I sped through the rest of it.
There weren’t too many errors that I caught, less than a handful that I marked down.
The tone wasn’t overly bleak despite the hardships some of them are having, it was more exciting than anything learning the way the magic worked and the relationships between the different factions of the world.
Pacing Final Score: 8.25/10
Writing Final Score: 7.5/10
============================
Originality:
I’ve never read a story with a magic system that worked like this, so that was exciting to read about.
A woman being the only person in a male-dominated profession has been done, so I’ve seen it a lot before, however, the character and the circumstances were interesting enough that it held my attention.
I liked the steampunk elements in it, it made the world feel different and more unique – although I’ll confess I haven’t read a ton of steampunk to begin with. However, since it’s new-ish to me it kept things pretty fresh. There have been less handful of books that have steampunk aspects to them from the SPFBO that I’ve read so far.
Final Score: 7.5/10
========================
Audience:
For people who like multi POV
For people who like steampunk
For people who like a LOT of magic
For people who like spy POV’s
For people who like female POV’s
For people who like a gritty world without being overly dark
For people who like character-driven stories
Not for those who don’t like cursing. 29 fucks given.
Final Thoughts:
Final Score: 48.25/60
I really liked this book, the prologue was short but it got me excited about the world. Sometimes when a prologue is too long it feels daunting to start all over again with new characters, but with shorter more compact prologues that then tie back into the story work well for me.
The characters were strong in this book which I love, I like a lot of action and magic in my books, but it’s a much better experience if I also connect and like the characters.
This one will likely make my top 30 list.
August 11, 2017
A fantasy novel for the adult reader. I enjoyed the atmosphere Steiner created...blending in magic to a provincial setting. This book is the first of three and I am curious to see where the story goes next. Lots of interesting elements going on here. Steiner paints this world very well. Recommended for those who want a solid fantasy story with strong characters.
August 17, 2020
For some reason this didn't automatically share from my kindle so here goes
Set in what I can only assume is a fantasy England. The church's power has been broken but the old enforcers now uphold the law in a world where the wizards and magicians who were were once burned as heratics are gaining power and influence. But at what cost.
Adam does a fantastic job of pulling us into the characters with all their human flaws. Heroes and villains, but who is who? Do they even know themselves? Although a great reimagining of the world of magic and what power can do, and corrupt
Set in what I can only assume is a fantasy England. The church's power has been broken but the old enforcers now uphold the law in a world where the wizards and magicians who were were once burned as heratics are gaining power and influence. But at what cost.
Adam does a fantastic job of pulling us into the characters with all their human flaws. Heroes and villains, but who is who? Do they even know themselves? Although a great reimagining of the world of magic and what power can do, and corrupt
September 16, 2017
A M Steiner has a great future as a writer. The Censor’s Hand is a captivating fantasy with a unique worldview and an unusual and uncanny take on magic. The masters of magic do so by going to strange and unusual extremes. There is not one way to do magic. It is highly individualized. It is also highly profitable and previously open only to men. The masters of the Honourable Company of Cunning sell their endeavors to the highest bidder. This has caused the rise and ruin of many including Jonathan - a man whose mill hasn’t fared well since the winds have been diverted by magic.
The story begins with a conspiracy and a murder. From there we are introduced to the main characters. Miranda - an extremely able young woman, a genius who wants to become a master of the cunning arts, something no woman has ever been permitted to do. Daniel is determined to become a censor, a guardian of justice, both to protect his family and to make amends for his sister’s disappearance long ago. Jonathan his brother is struggling to survive, and is willing to take drastic steps - but he is the last to expect how far he is willing to go to ensure his family’s survival.
This is the first novel of the series, and if the two to follow are anywhere as good, readers will be in for a treat. I enjoyed The Censor’s Hand immensely and look forward to reading the next novel in the Thrice-Crossed Swords Trilogy.
5 / 5
I received a copy of The Censor’s Hand from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-- Crittermom
The story begins with a conspiracy and a murder. From there we are introduced to the main characters. Miranda - an extremely able young woman, a genius who wants to become a master of the cunning arts, something no woman has ever been permitted to do. Daniel is determined to become a censor, a guardian of justice, both to protect his family and to make amends for his sister’s disappearance long ago. Jonathan his brother is struggling to survive, and is willing to take drastic steps - but he is the last to expect how far he is willing to go to ensure his family’s survival.
This is the first novel of the series, and if the two to follow are anywhere as good, readers will be in for a treat. I enjoyed The Censor’s Hand immensely and look forward to reading the next novel in the Thrice-Crossed Swords Trilogy.
5 / 5
I received a copy of The Censor’s Hand from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-- Crittermom
August 16, 2017
This is an dark and epic fantasy that on top of being entertaining and griping, raises alot of cultural issues.
Intelligence vs Religion, What is guilt?, Can we trust the Law?, Who should govern us?
As well as other political/social issues.
The concept of Magic being a commodity was unique and enjoyable as was the plot.
As all high fantasy the start can take a bit go getting used to but the writing is highly descriptive and captivating, I would my self submerged in the world very easily.
My only critique would be to have more back story.
As a debut novel, amazing!
Intelligence vs Religion, What is guilt?, Can we trust the Law?, Who should govern us?
As well as other political/social issues.
The concept of Magic being a commodity was unique and enjoyable as was the plot.
As all high fantasy the start can take a bit go getting used to but the writing is highly descriptive and captivating, I would my self submerged in the world very easily.
My only critique would be to have more back story.
As a debut novel, amazing!
partly-read
September 18, 2017I stopped reading this twice.
The first time, at maybe 15%, I went off and read several other books. I didn't feel much desire to go back to it, but I wasn't hating it, so I gave it another go. In part, I wanted to figure out why it was that I didn't care about any of the characters, and give the author a chance to change that.
I got to 64% before I realised why it was that I didn't care, and at that point I stopped.
The narrative follows three loosely connected main characters. One is in financial trouble and about to lose the family business, which would mean his ill mother, his wife, and their baby would have no means of support. You'd think this would make me care about him, but he's so hapless and hopeless, and makes such bad decisions, that I never did. His family seems to be more of a constraint on his actions than people that he cares deeply about.
The second is the first character's brother. He's a competent fighter, and ambitious to clean up their old neighbourhood by becoming a Censor, a kind of lawman. Again, a laudable goal, and you'd think I'd care, but he fumbles around, not showing a lot of focus or competence, serving an obviously heartless organization which considers him a tool, and not a particularly valuable one.
The third character is a woman student - the first woman student - at a magical college, at which the second character is also a student as part of an undercover investigation. They become involved. So why didn't I care about a woman who's making her way in a man's world by being better than the male students? Normally I'd love that story, but this character is so nakedly ambitious, and so uncaring about anyone other than herself, that I had no sympathy for her goals.
And that was the overall problem, I think. Nobody combined competence with idealism; everyone was missing one or the other, and nobody had any noticeable compassion or empathy. Faced with a cast of characters who didn't much care about each other, I didn't care about them either, and stopped reading with no regrets.
I received a review copy via Netgalley.
The first time, at maybe 15%, I went off and read several other books. I didn't feel much desire to go back to it, but I wasn't hating it, so I gave it another go. In part, I wanted to figure out why it was that I didn't care about any of the characters, and give the author a chance to change that.
I got to 64% before I realised why it was that I didn't care, and at that point I stopped.
The narrative follows three loosely connected main characters. One is in financial trouble and about to lose the family business, which would mean his ill mother, his wife, and their baby would have no means of support. You'd think this would make me care about him, but he's so hapless and hopeless, and makes such bad decisions, that I never did. His family seems to be more of a constraint on his actions than people that he cares deeply about.
The second is the first character's brother. He's a competent fighter, and ambitious to clean up their old neighbourhood by becoming a Censor, a kind of lawman. Again, a laudable goal, and you'd think I'd care, but he fumbles around, not showing a lot of focus or competence, serving an obviously heartless organization which considers him a tool, and not a particularly valuable one.
The third character is a woman student - the first woman student - at a magical college, at which the second character is also a student as part of an undercover investigation. They become involved. So why didn't I care about a woman who's making her way in a man's world by being better than the male students? Normally I'd love that story, but this character is so nakedly ambitious, and so uncaring about anyone other than herself, that I had no sympathy for her goals.
And that was the overall problem, I think. Nobody combined competence with idealism; everyone was missing one or the other, and nobody had any noticeable compassion or empathy. Faced with a cast of characters who didn't much care about each other, I didn't care about them either, and stopped reading with no regrets.
I received a review copy via Netgalley.
July 30, 2018
An enjoyable start to this new series. Great fantasy tale with strong characters and plot. It hooks you at the start and keeps you reading right to the end. Good page turner.
Really enjoyable
Free arc from netgalley
Really enjoyable
Free arc from netgalley
September 25, 2017
The Censor's Hand is a cracking start to a trilogy by A. M. Steiner. It's set in a steampunk world where technology and magic meet. Magic is harvested / mined, by a group of people who are feared (sometimes respected) - the masters, and distrusted by the ultimate law keepers - the Censors. Combine with that, a murder mystery when one of the Censors is murdered, a rebellion in the making, and a young woman challenging the misogynistic society which believed that no "mere woman" could become a master, and you're in for a real treat. The action keeps going at a great pace, and if you're waiting for the next Patrick Rothfuss or George R.R. Martin book, then look no further. If you've tried reading fantasy but found it too much of a slog in the past (e.g. The Wheel of Time (book 1 -The Eye of the World), or The Lord of the Rings), then don't worry, this will have you gripped from the outset, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Very highly recommended!
September 7, 2017
This is the first book in the Thrice Crosses Swords trilogy, and the first I have read from this author. The beginning is well laid out and really hooks you in. The story follows three main characters journey.
The flow is smooth and well developed world building leading up to more to come. A solid fantasy for the adult reader.
The flow is smooth and well developed world building leading up to more to come. A solid fantasy for the adult reader.
September 8, 2017
I was hooked very quickly by Steiner's tale in a Medieval feeling world where magic is used like a precious mineral that can be mined by the company and only manipulated by the Masters. Daniel, Jon and Miranda's stories bring this world to life. Miranda is a strong willed woman trying to break boundaries in a male dominated society. Daniel comes from the 'turbulence' and has the ambition to become a Censor, to achieve this goal he must first take a role as an undercover investigator in the death of a censor. While he is away, his Brother, Jon Miller gets caught up in local resistance while trying to keep his mill afloat and support his family.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book and discovering how their stories unfold. This is the first book I have read from this author, and it won't be the last, thanks to Net galley for the opportunity to review it.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book and discovering how their stories unfold. This is the first book I have read from this author, and it won't be the last, thanks to Net galley for the opportunity to review it.
January 26, 2018
This book had a LOT of things that I appreciated. It wasn't a cliffhanger, the various POVs were pretty smooth and it was a straight epic fantasy that didn't drown in trying to be epic. The writing style keeps you in the story and the world-building was complete enough that it seems lived in.
I don't get why this is considered 'dark' fantasy at all. An existence that isn't all sugar and rainbows doesn't qualify for dark. Nor because some of the bad stuff that occurs or is described isn't an overused trope. IMO, this book is adult epic fantasy, stays in it's lane and can hold it's own with books that may be better known. My only complaint is that I wasn't surprised about anything. That's what kept it from being a 5-star book for me. Unless I yell (or think really loudly) "Holy crap!", 4-stars is as high as I can go.
IMO, this series starts off with the same feeling of promise that I felt when I started the Demon Cycle series. I am really looking forward to the next book. I'm putting my money where my mouth is and will purchase the book instead of using my Kindle Unlimited subscription to read it for free.
And man do I wish it was available as an audiobook as well....
I don't get why this is considered 'dark' fantasy at all. An existence that isn't all sugar and rainbows doesn't qualify for dark. Nor because some of the bad stuff that occurs or is described isn't an overused trope. IMO, this book is adult epic fantasy, stays in it's lane and can hold it's own with books that may be better known. My only complaint is that I wasn't surprised about anything. That's what kept it from being a 5-star book for me. Unless I yell (or think really loudly) "Holy crap!", 4-stars is as high as I can go.
IMO, this series starts off with the same feeling of promise that I felt when I started the Demon Cycle series. I am really looking forward to the next book. I'm putting my money where my mouth is and will purchase the book instead of using my Kindle Unlimited subscription to read it for free.
And man do I wish it was available as an audiobook as well....
June 13, 2017
Grimdark fantasy book in a modern setting, where problems like lack of work, famine and poor health are cause not by a industrial revolution like ours, but by the use of magic. It is refreshing seeing fantasy books well into a sort of late 18th century instead of the ubiquitous "Middle Ages".
It has an interesting worldbuilding, with wizards capable of great feats but who need to administer the "wild magic" as a valuable resource, with sacrifices or eccentric behaviour.
The novel relies on three protagonists, Miranda, who wants to become a master in the Convergenge (the "Wizard's Guild"); Daniel, an aspiring censor (sort of "witch hunter" and justice man) and his brother, Jonathan, a miller. The chapters are alternated from their point of view and they are complex characters with an interesting life.
However, I couldn't connect with Miranda, and her voluble acting, and Jonathan, due to his plot-arc, which made their parts a bit too long. But I have to admit that the fact the novel has a rich language contributed to my opinion. Probably a native speaker would find the chapters the perfect length.
I also think that a map, as it happens in many other fantasy books, would help to follow the action. Any time a character spoke about "the north Kingdoms", I wanted to know how big they were. The world of the Thrice Swords is inspired by England (there are references about an alternate-name Egypt, Greece and Rome) so the North Kingdoms could be Scandinavia, but I wanted a bit more information about them.
All things considered, it is an interesting book.
It has an interesting worldbuilding, with wizards capable of great feats but who need to administer the "wild magic" as a valuable resource, with sacrifices or eccentric behaviour.
The novel relies on three protagonists, Miranda, who wants to become a master in the Convergenge (the "Wizard's Guild"); Daniel, an aspiring censor (sort of "witch hunter" and justice man) and his brother, Jonathan, a miller. The chapters are alternated from their point of view and they are complex characters with an interesting life.
However, I couldn't connect with Miranda, and her voluble acting, and Jonathan, due to his plot-arc, which made their parts a bit too long. But I have to admit that the fact the novel has a rich language contributed to my opinion. Probably a native speaker would find the chapters the perfect length.
I also think that a map, as it happens in many other fantasy books, would help to follow the action. Any time a character spoke about "the north Kingdoms", I wanted to know how big they were. The world of the Thrice Swords is inspired by England (there are references about an alternate-name Egypt, Greece and Rome) so the North Kingdoms could be Scandinavia, but I wanted a bit more information about them.
All things considered, it is an interesting book.
November 7, 2018
Steampunk, magical fantasy, and awesome world building sucked me in. What a cool book!
Daniel is at the end of five years training to be a Censor. He’s ready to start his career doling out justice. Miranda is ward of the Duchess of the North and has ability to use Cunning to control magic that gives her an opportunity no woman before her has had. John is Daniel’s brother who just wants to keep the family mill going. They all get wrapped up in a murder mystery that proves big enough to change their world.
I’ve read a lot of books lately, really! Just check out my reviews at Science Fantasy Hub if you don’t believe me. Anyhow, I know The Censor’s Hand is one of those that is such a vivid world, you’ll fall back into recollections of certain scenes from time to time. Especially when real life is boring. Like being stuck on traffic on the stupid bridge. You’d think paying fifteen dollars to get over a river would be a quick thing…
This book made a twilight trip over the George Washington Bridge into Jersey worthwhile! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. I’m going to use one of wifey’s monthly Audible credits for the other two books in the series, when she lets me.
I really liked all the freaky guys that practice Cunning with the Honorable Company. Their strategy is to appear “other-worldy” so that magic is attracted to them. A couple characters are very memorable. I don’t want to spoil, so you should just start reading for yourself.
Daniel is at the end of five years training to be a Censor. He’s ready to start his career doling out justice. Miranda is ward of the Duchess of the North and has ability to use Cunning to control magic that gives her an opportunity no woman before her has had. John is Daniel’s brother who just wants to keep the family mill going. They all get wrapped up in a murder mystery that proves big enough to change their world.
I’ve read a lot of books lately, really! Just check out my reviews at Science Fantasy Hub if you don’t believe me. Anyhow, I know The Censor’s Hand is one of those that is such a vivid world, you’ll fall back into recollections of certain scenes from time to time. Especially when real life is boring. Like being stuck on traffic on the stupid bridge. You’d think paying fifteen dollars to get over a river would be a quick thing…
This book made a twilight trip over the George Washington Bridge into Jersey worthwhile! I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. I’m going to use one of wifey’s monthly Audible credits for the other two books in the series, when she lets me.
I really liked all the freaky guys that practice Cunning with the Honorable Company. Their strategy is to appear “other-worldy” so that magic is attracted to them. A couple characters are very memorable. I don’t want to spoil, so you should just start reading for yourself.
August 14, 2017
A.M. Steiner clearly inhabits the world he writes in. This is a magic-filled adventure that feels mature in its rendering, a little beyond the young adult fantasy books that are being published.
The book is the first of a series and does an excellent job of laying the groundwork for more story to come. The other aspect of the book that works really well with s the way Steiner takes elements of fantasy and melds them together with his provincial setting.
This masterful use of atmosphere is worth the price of the book alone, and I will be curious to see where Steiner takes the story in the next chapter.
The book is the first of a series and does an excellent job of laying the groundwork for more story to come. The other aspect of the book that works really well with s the way Steiner takes elements of fantasy and melds them together with his provincial setting.
This masterful use of atmosphere is worth the price of the book alone, and I will be curious to see where Steiner takes the story in the next chapter.
July 6, 2020
I listened to the audiobook version.
I saw this book mentioned in a Grimdark literature forum and thought I'd give it a go. Ever the optimist, I expected it to be pretty good, but not nearly as good as it turned out to be.
A lot of this genre is in love with its atmosphere and worldbuilding at the expense of plot and character. Not so here. Don't get me wrong; the worldbuilding is intriguing, thorough, believable and features some brilliant unique ideas. The plot and characters, however, are next level here. I am totally in love with Miranda (naturally), and throughout the author has that knack of writing 'in character' so that we see the world how the character would, we care about the things they'd care about, notice what they'd notice. Each plotline has a goal worth attaining, has some stakes and sense of risk, and there is plenty of properly-rationed mystery and genuine shocks.
For me, the writing style and general tone sets the book even higher above the usual fare. There are some masterful descriptions, and the sentences are elegant; there are features that remind me of Mervyn Peake, if he could write an engaging plot as well as a breathtaking paragraph. The research details (the workings of a mill, for example) and word choices totally serve the feel of the book and its world, and the complementary genre elements—a bit of fantasy, a bit of steampunk, a bit of classic mystery—are woven together with deft mastery.
Any criticisms I have are from a desire for more; I wanted Miranda's trajectory to be more drawn out, and reveal more of the workings of the Convergence. It's a testament to the depth and intricacy of the world-building that I felt there were some missed opportunities that could have been taken without my losing interest in the plot. To be fair, though, it might have interfered with the timelines of the various plots, which were able to join up satisfyingly because of a bit of abbreviation. It's rare I'd ask for 'more padding', but this is an instance where I could have listened to at least another four hours of Convergence business. Some might want more action, but in this case I think they'd be wrong, and I appreciate how each action scene has its own feel and new features, so that there's none of that 'here we go again...' feeling that makes me want to skip pages in some other books.
The conception of magic is one of the best features for me. Too often it's treated in Fantasy like something to be mastered like any worldy pursuit; like science, particularly. The whole point of Steiner's magic is that it is otherworldly—even 'interwordly', as shown in one absolutely golden episode—and harnessing it is not a comfortable matter of 'working really hard' or 'having talent'.
The narrator was good, with crisp delivery, a compelling cadence that took notice of rises and falls in the tempo of the plot, and a warm, pleasant voice. Good expression with character dialogue, which added to the immersion. Impressive accent work, although one, though technically pretty much there, wasn't at the level where characterisation could be as subtle as managed with other voices. SFX not to my taste, but sparingly used and so not an issue.
I'm eager for the next books in the series, and would be happy if the same narrator read it. The audio medium definitely adds something over text.
I saw this book mentioned in a Grimdark literature forum and thought I'd give it a go. Ever the optimist, I expected it to be pretty good, but not nearly as good as it turned out to be.
A lot of this genre is in love with its atmosphere and worldbuilding at the expense of plot and character. Not so here. Don't get me wrong; the worldbuilding is intriguing, thorough, believable and features some brilliant unique ideas. The plot and characters, however, are next level here. I am totally in love with Miranda (naturally), and throughout the author has that knack of writing 'in character' so that we see the world how the character would, we care about the things they'd care about, notice what they'd notice. Each plotline has a goal worth attaining, has some stakes and sense of risk, and there is plenty of properly-rationed mystery and genuine shocks.
For me, the writing style and general tone sets the book even higher above the usual fare. There are some masterful descriptions, and the sentences are elegant; there are features that remind me of Mervyn Peake, if he could write an engaging plot as well as a breathtaking paragraph. The research details (the workings of a mill, for example) and word choices totally serve the feel of the book and its world, and the complementary genre elements—a bit of fantasy, a bit of steampunk, a bit of classic mystery—are woven together with deft mastery.
Any criticisms I have are from a desire for more; I wanted Miranda's trajectory to be more drawn out, and reveal more of the workings of the Convergence. It's a testament to the depth and intricacy of the world-building that I felt there were some missed opportunities that could have been taken without my losing interest in the plot. To be fair, though, it might have interfered with the timelines of the various plots, which were able to join up satisfyingly because of a bit of abbreviation. It's rare I'd ask for 'more padding', but this is an instance where I could have listened to at least another four hours of Convergence business. Some might want more action, but in this case I think they'd be wrong, and I appreciate how each action scene has its own feel and new features, so that there's none of that 'here we go again...' feeling that makes me want to skip pages in some other books.
The conception of magic is one of the best features for me. Too often it's treated in Fantasy like something to be mastered like any worldy pursuit; like science, particularly. The whole point of Steiner's magic is that it is otherworldly—even 'interwordly', as shown in one absolutely golden episode—and harnessing it is not a comfortable matter of 'working really hard' or 'having talent'.
The narrator was good, with crisp delivery, a compelling cadence that took notice of rises and falls in the tempo of the plot, and a warm, pleasant voice. Good expression with character dialogue, which added to the immersion. Impressive accent work, although one, though technically pretty much there, wasn't at the level where characterisation could be as subtle as managed with other voices. SFX not to my taste, but sparingly used and so not an issue.
I'm eager for the next books in the series, and would be happy if the same narrator read it. The audio medium definitely adds something over text.
October 25, 2018
The Censor's Hand is an excellent book. The setting is a rich and vibrant world where science, magic, political intrigue, rebellion, and ideologies clash and intertwine flawlessly .While I initially had a difficult time getting into it, it keeps getting better and better. I will absolutely be reading the next book in the series.
Stats
Plot- Three characters with separate yet interwoven lives and drastically different goals, all directed by unseen hands as a culture heads towards war and disaster. All of these factors serve to produce one of the most intriguing and well-crafted plots I have seen. (5 stars)
Characters - The characters are impelling and complex and truly draw you into the story. (5 stars)
Storytelling - The author's talent is undeniable, while I at first thought the story to be slow I quickly came to enjoy Steiner’s eloquence. Moreover, by the time the book ended I was excited to read more. (5 stars)
World Building - The Censor's Hand is set in a rich industrial world ripe with clockwork and seeped in magic. However, world building is not the author’s primary concern, which does leave room for the world to expand in future books (4 stars)
Magic System- Magic in this world is clearly complex and will likely continue to play a large role it the story, yet it remains, likely purposely, undefined and abstract. (4 stars)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Morality rating- The Censor's Hand contains some language, violence, and sexuality as well as, an off-screen sex scene and the causal discussion of torture, sex, and homosexuality.
Stats
Plot- Three characters with separate yet interwoven lives and drastically different goals, all directed by unseen hands as a culture heads towards war and disaster. All of these factors serve to produce one of the most intriguing and well-crafted plots I have seen. (5 stars)
Characters - The characters are impelling and complex and truly draw you into the story. (5 stars)
Storytelling - The author's talent is undeniable, while I at first thought the story to be slow I quickly came to enjoy Steiner’s eloquence. Moreover, by the time the book ended I was excited to read more. (5 stars)
World Building - The Censor's Hand is set in a rich industrial world ripe with clockwork and seeped in magic. However, world building is not the author’s primary concern, which does leave room for the world to expand in future books (4 stars)
Magic System- Magic in this world is clearly complex and will likely continue to play a large role it the story, yet it remains, likely purposely, undefined and abstract. (4 stars)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Morality rating- The Censor's Hand contains some language, violence, and sexuality as well as, an off-screen sex scene and the causal discussion of torture, sex, and homosexuality.
January 9, 2018
4.5/5 stars; a fantasy novel for the adult reader!
The story is told from three distinct points of view - three characters at a crossroads to achieve their destiny - Brothers: one a man struggling in a world where work is replaced by machines and another a hopeful censor, and an orphan, ward of the Duchess (nobility in this world), girl wanting to shatter glass ceilings and be the first female master of cunning, the manipulation of magic.
The story beings with a mystery in the prologue which will be a driving force for change in Daniel, Jon, and Miranda's lives. Beautifully and eloquently written, Steiner weaves an intoxicating web that grabs the reader at the beginning. The book is a long one, but it keeps the interest well as Steiner layers the plot progression well alongside character development and the wider glimpses into the world he has created.
I lost a bit of interest in Jon's story in the last third of the book; however, it does come around in the end and I look forward to the future of his character arc. Miranda was my favorite character until the end of the book. I understand the reasoning for what happens but it does not feel in line with the way her character had been written up until then: an assured woman who wanted to become a m aster, that refused to listen to men tell her that she was doomed to fail because of her sensibilities as a woman. What transpired at the end of the blade feels disingenuous to her character.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the second installment of the trilogy. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Ptolemy Publishing UK, for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from three distinct points of view - three characters at a crossroads to achieve their destiny - Brothers: one a man struggling in a world where work is replaced by machines and another a hopeful censor, and an orphan, ward of the Duchess (nobility in this world), girl wanting to shatter glass ceilings and be the first female master of cunning, the manipulation of magic.
The story beings with a mystery in the prologue which will be a driving force for change in Daniel, Jon, and Miranda's lives. Beautifully and eloquently written, Steiner weaves an intoxicating web that grabs the reader at the beginning. The book is a long one, but it keeps the interest well as Steiner layers the plot progression well alongside character development and the wider glimpses into the world he has created.
I lost a bit of interest in Jon's story in the last third of the book; however, it does come around in the end and I look forward to the future of his character arc. Miranda was my favorite character until the end of the book. I understand the reasoning for what happens but it does not feel in line with the way her character had been written up until then: an assured woman who wanted to become a m aster, that refused to listen to men tell her that she was doomed to fail because of her sensibilities as a woman. What transpired at the end of the blade feels disingenuous to her character.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the second installment of the trilogy. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Ptolemy Publishing UK, for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2018
Steampunk magic meets Mission Impossible! In The Censor's Hand, we follow several characters as their lives are intricately woven together. Miranda, a daughter of the Duchess, is a powerful and genius magic-user with a cut-throat desire to become a Master of the cunning arts. Jon is just trying to make an honest living to support his wife, daughter, and mother with his mill. His brother Daniel's heart is set on becoming a censor, a kind of police officer, to avenge for what happened to their sister. All are trying to make their way in a world that is harsh and unyielding, but will soon find out that everything becomes more complicated. How far will each go to achieve their ends?
Masterfully crafted, the plot lines are fantastic and each character is very human with their own motivations and decisions. Three underdogs - three paths. As you follow each one, it can get a bit tedious so you need to buckle down and really pay attention (which is my only complaint, the tediousness of switching perspectives at times). It leaves you enough information to want more - I'm hanging on the edge of my seat to read the next installment. By the end of The Censor's Hand, you will be too.
Masterfully crafted, the plot lines are fantastic and each character is very human with their own motivations and decisions. Three underdogs - three paths. As you follow each one, it can get a bit tedious so you need to buckle down and really pay attention (which is my only complaint, the tediousness of switching perspectives at times). It leaves you enough information to want more - I'm hanging on the edge of my seat to read the next installment. By the end of The Censor's Hand, you will be too.
March 4, 2018
I am surprised that The Censor's Hand hasn't gotten more attention because it's an exciting story and Steiner is definitely a good writer. I came accross it through kindle unlimited, and am happy that my money-saving efforts got me to look outside the popular titles.
The character writing was good, which I appreciate a lot. There are three point-of-view characters. Two are working class brothers, one a miller and one a law-enforcement officer in training, and the other is a noblewoman academic. Each character is flawed but likeable, and they all undergo important growth and changes over the course of the book.
There is a magic school for adults, rebels who aren't necessarily good guys, some kind of conspiracy between the law and the magic school, and of course a murder mystery. What's not to like?
The author could have spent a bit more time on the world-building and history, but it was easy to follow even without the background. Maybe we will learn more in the next installment.
I recommend The Censor's Hand to anyone who likes fantasy. Hopefully the book will be more widely read in the future because it can definitely compete with the more popular books in its genre. It's better than a lot of books that I paid full-price for, and has inspired me to give more lesser-known authors a chance.
The character writing was good, which I appreciate a lot. There are three point-of-view characters. Two are working class brothers, one a miller and one a law-enforcement officer in training, and the other is a noblewoman academic. Each character is flawed but likeable, and they all undergo important growth and changes over the course of the book.
There is a magic school for adults, rebels who aren't necessarily good guys, some kind of conspiracy between the law and the magic school, and of course a murder mystery. What's not to like?
The author could have spent a bit more time on the world-building and history, but it was easy to follow even without the background. Maybe we will learn more in the next installment.
I recommend The Censor's Hand to anyone who likes fantasy. Hopefully the book will be more widely read in the future because it can definitely compete with the more popular books in its genre. It's better than a lot of books that I paid full-price for, and has inspired me to give more lesser-known authors a chance.
September 19, 2017
This is probably more 3.5 stars than 3.
I feel like the strongest element of this book was the characters. I really enjoyed reading about Daniel and Miranda, although I wasn't as interested in Jon.
It was an easy ready for the most part with good pacing almost consistently throughout.
There were a few things I didn't like, however. First of all, the events of the prologue never really get resolved. I do understand that this is a series, but I kind of felt that there should be some resolution. I didn't like the references to "our" world. Some of it just didn't seem to fit and seemed to just be thrown in haphazardly. The world that was created was interesting enough without obscure references to places and people from history.
Lastly, I found the conversations to be, at times, convoluted. While I understand that the author was trying to convey political intrigue and hidden meanings within the conversations, I felt that this was overcomplicated.
Overall, I did enjoy the majority of the book and at times, I couldn't put it down. It's a fairly solid effort.
I feel like the strongest element of this book was the characters. I really enjoyed reading about Daniel and Miranda, although I wasn't as interested in Jon.
It was an easy ready for the most part with good pacing almost consistently throughout.
There were a few things I didn't like, however. First of all, the events of the prologue never really get resolved. I do understand that this is a series, but I kind of felt that there should be some resolution. I didn't like the references to "our" world. Some of it just didn't seem to fit and seemed to just be thrown in haphazardly. The world that was created was interesting enough without obscure references to places and people from history.
Lastly, I found the conversations to be, at times, convoluted. While I understand that the author was trying to convey political intrigue and hidden meanings within the conversations, I felt that this was overcomplicated.
Overall, I did enjoy the majority of the book and at times, I couldn't put it down. It's a fairly solid effort.
October 10, 2017
Impressive and original. A touch of steampunk, and loads of magic, interesting protagonists - one of them a very determined young woman - and a mystery to solve. The world-building is carefully done and credibly presented with a range of social ranks and roles, and a dependence on magic that may turn out to be fatal. Good stuff!
January 1, 2018
This review can also be found on my blog,
Where the Words Take Me
.
I downloaded a copy of this book from NetGalley a few months after the publication date. It’s technically an ARC, just not an “advanced from the author/publisher” one. Regardless, the review that follows is my honest and true opinion.
The Censor’s Hand is the first book of the Thrice-Crossed Swords trilogy, an adult fantasy that veers towards the philosophical. I chose it because it’s a little different from what I usually read, but it still sounded promising.
In this fictional world, magic is harnessed via masters of the Honorable Company of Cunning and sold to whoever can afford it, their headquarters located on the island of the Convergence. After a censor, a guardian of justice, is discovered murdered there, a discreet investigation is launched to find the true culprit.
The book follows three POVs. Daniel, a censor-in-training, hopes to land himself a better life and become qualified enough to do the right thing, protecting his home from street gangs and Freemen, a group of terrorists/dissenters protesting the current society. John, Daniel’s brother, is down on his luck, owning a mill falling into ruin after the Company diverted the wind, making the mill’s sails no longer turn. Miranda is an adoptive ward of the Duchess, seeking to be the first woman to ever be accepted into the Company and made a master.
Each of these characters has their own obstacles to overcome. Daniel fails his censor test but is given a second chance to go undercover at the Convergence and solve the murder. Miranda, while accepted to the Convergence, faces sexual discrimination at nearly every turn, despite her natural talent and cunning mind. John makes a desperate move to save his mill, putting himself in debt with gangsters and accidentally allying himself with the Freemen, something his pious, law-abiding moral center vehemently rebels against.
Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get truly immersed into the story. I only really liked Daniel and another censor, Corbin, consistently. John’s situation was sympathetic once it spiraled more and more out of control, but his opening actions were solely his own fault and his sanctimonious attitude got tiring after a while. Miranda was compelling at first. I enjoyed the fact that she was equal parts confident and arrogant, with the talent to back it up, but I grew to hate how she treated servants or anybody “lessor” than her with typical noble disdain. She also can’t stand to be outsmarted or made a fool of, proving she can dish it out but she can’t take it herself.
Though there was nothing wrong with the writing and I liked A. M. Steiner’s style well enough, the story itself didn’t make me come alive with wonder like fantasy usually does. I didn’t hate it—in fact, Steiner had a lot of good points he made about the dangers of unfettered ambition, how “the little man” often gets abandoned in the wake of progress, the desperation that people can be driven to when their options are limited, how politics can overshadow what’s true and what’s false—but I didn’t love it. A little too dry for my tastes.
I’m not certain whether I’ll continue the series to see if it gets more interesting. That’ll depend on what the second book is about, and how I’ll feel more than anything. As I said, there was nothing wrong with the writing itself, more of what story the writing was choosing to tell and how it was telling it. Though it was middle-of-the-road for me, others may find the messages inside The Censor’s Hand to be truly compelling and thought-provoking.
I downloaded a copy of this book from NetGalley a few months after the publication date. It’s technically an ARC, just not an “advanced from the author/publisher” one. Regardless, the review that follows is my honest and true opinion.
The Censor’s Hand is the first book of the Thrice-Crossed Swords trilogy, an adult fantasy that veers towards the philosophical. I chose it because it’s a little different from what I usually read, but it still sounded promising.
In this fictional world, magic is harnessed via masters of the Honorable Company of Cunning and sold to whoever can afford it, their headquarters located on the island of the Convergence. After a censor, a guardian of justice, is discovered murdered there, a discreet investigation is launched to find the true culprit.
The book follows three POVs. Daniel, a censor-in-training, hopes to land himself a better life and become qualified enough to do the right thing, protecting his home from street gangs and Freemen, a group of terrorists/dissenters protesting the current society. John, Daniel’s brother, is down on his luck, owning a mill falling into ruin after the Company diverted the wind, making the mill’s sails no longer turn. Miranda is an adoptive ward of the Duchess, seeking to be the first woman to ever be accepted into the Company and made a master.
Each of these characters has their own obstacles to overcome. Daniel fails his censor test but is given a second chance to go undercover at the Convergence and solve the murder. Miranda, while accepted to the Convergence, faces sexual discrimination at nearly every turn, despite her natural talent and cunning mind. John makes a desperate move to save his mill, putting himself in debt with gangsters and accidentally allying himself with the Freemen, something his pious, law-abiding moral center vehemently rebels against.
Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get truly immersed into the story. I only really liked Daniel and another censor, Corbin, consistently. John’s situation was sympathetic once it spiraled more and more out of control, but his opening actions were solely his own fault and his sanctimonious attitude got tiring after a while. Miranda was compelling at first. I enjoyed the fact that she was equal parts confident and arrogant, with the talent to back it up, but I grew to hate how she treated servants or anybody “lessor” than her with typical noble disdain. She also can’t stand to be outsmarted or made a fool of, proving she can dish it out but she can’t take it herself.
Though there was nothing wrong with the writing and I liked A. M. Steiner’s style well enough, the story itself didn’t make me come alive with wonder like fantasy usually does. I didn’t hate it—in fact, Steiner had a lot of good points he made about the dangers of unfettered ambition, how “the little man” often gets abandoned in the wake of progress, the desperation that people can be driven to when their options are limited, how politics can overshadow what’s true and what’s false—but I didn’t love it. A little too dry for my tastes.
I’m not certain whether I’ll continue the series to see if it gets more interesting. That’ll depend on what the second book is about, and how I’ll feel more than anything. As I said, there was nothing wrong with the writing itself, more of what story the writing was choosing to tell and how it was telling it. Though it was middle-of-the-road for me, others may find the messages inside The Censor’s Hand to be truly compelling and thought-provoking.
May 27, 2020
This was a great story. Some of themes were very similar to other fantasy stories I have read but the way the characters interact is great and their stories are all intertwined and well told. I already ordered the second one.
October 21, 2017
This was the most surprising book I have read. It was the right kind of darkeness, as well as sexism and having a very relatable main character which I really connected with.
Miranda was really what kept me reading. The way that she seemed so real, she is confident and not completely the type of typical protagonist. She isn’t filled with emotions, neither is she always wanting to prove herself. I like it when a protagonist is like that, which is what really clicked with me. She is obeying orders, but she is confident in her abilities and talents, but never always needing validation or even some guy to tell that she is good. That is where this novel really did well on.
The other characters didn’t keep my interest as much as Miranda did. And the world although well developed and clearly interesting suffered due to the plot. I really couldfind many moments where I was bored, so completely bored of the novel. And moments when I was hooked. That is what I consider a flaw of the novel.
Although it has one character who really shone for me, in a world where there is a lot of injustices as well as problems. All the while suggesting some hope, I like that Miranda is not the centre of it all. But there were moments where the pacing failed to hook me, and for some part of the book I had to put it down. But overall, this was a worthwhile read.
My verdict: Recommended fod Fantasy fans, this is really written for you.
Miranda was really what kept me reading. The way that she seemed so real, she is confident and not completely the type of typical protagonist. She isn’t filled with emotions, neither is she always wanting to prove herself. I like it when a protagonist is like that, which is what really clicked with me. She is obeying orders, but she is confident in her abilities and talents, but never always needing validation or even some guy to tell that she is good. That is where this novel really did well on.
The other characters didn’t keep my interest as much as Miranda did. And the world although well developed and clearly interesting suffered due to the plot. I really couldfind many moments where I was bored, so completely bored of the novel. And moments when I was hooked. That is what I consider a flaw of the novel.
Although it has one character who really shone for me, in a world where there is a lot of injustices as well as problems. All the while suggesting some hope, I like that Miranda is not the centre of it all. But there were moments where the pacing failed to hook me, and for some part of the book I had to put it down. But overall, this was a worthwhile read.
My verdict: Recommended fod Fantasy fans, this is really written for you.
December 6, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Censor's Hand is the first in a trilogy that takes place in a new fantasy world featuring a unique take on magic. This story follows three characters on three distinctly different paths which provides an opportunity for the author to really focus on world building. There's also a murder mystery thrown in the mix. I feel like this book had way too much going on with not enough character development or connectivity with the characters. It would have done better as at least two separate books to give the time and attention needed to give to the characters. Because of this, I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. The book did provide interesting and creative world building with respect to the role of magic, politics, religion, and caste system. I did enjoy these aspects of the book, but recommend that more character development be included in future installments.
The Censor's Hand is the first in a trilogy that takes place in a new fantasy world featuring a unique take on magic. This story follows three characters on three distinctly different paths which provides an opportunity for the author to really focus on world building. There's also a murder mystery thrown in the mix. I feel like this book had way too much going on with not enough character development or connectivity with the characters. It would have done better as at least two separate books to give the time and attention needed to give to the characters. Because of this, I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. The book did provide interesting and creative world building with respect to the role of magic, politics, religion, and caste system. I did enjoy these aspects of the book, but recommend that more character development be included in future installments.
May 27, 2018
Told in alternating points of view from three main characters, The Censor’s Hand is a vivid entry in a world where magic is the source powering technology, the rule of law, and the fabric determining the fate of society.
Strong character development with a plot that develops around the murder of a Censor and the conspiracy surrounding it; two brothers follow different paths towards their destinies while a young woman who is the ward of the Duchess strives to break the patriarchal dominance of the Convergence.
Each reaching for their own paths in life; of justice in the Brotherhood of Censors, as an honest denizen tradesman, and as the first female Master of the Company of Cunning; together weaving a wonderful tale in the first chapter of what promises to be a spelling trilogy.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Ptolemy in exchange for an honest review.
Strong character development with a plot that develops around the murder of a Censor and the conspiracy surrounding it; two brothers follow different paths towards their destinies while a young woman who is the ward of the Duchess strives to break the patriarchal dominance of the Convergence.
Each reaching for their own paths in life; of justice in the Brotherhood of Censors, as an honest denizen tradesman, and as the first female Master of the Company of Cunning; together weaving a wonderful tale in the first chapter of what promises to be a spelling trilogy.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Ptolemy in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2021
This is a fresh take on the sword-and-sorcery genre, in which the main characters are trying to succeed in their own ambitions while trying to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, as they mature into more powerful people individually and among those around them, they find that they do not know whom they can trust. The world building and character development in the story are great, and the plot leaves plenty of room for follow-on books.
January 20, 2018
ARC from Netgalley. 4.5 to be accurate. A great and original fantasy world. Well developed characters and a weaving of plot strands that pull together in a tumultuous climax. Looking forward to book 2.
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